Japan Will Not Take Part In Copa America – FA President Junji Ogura

Japanese Football Association president Junji Ogura has confirmed the country will not take part in this summer’s Copa America due to the devastation caused by last month’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The Blue Samurai were due to enter the tournament held in Argentina as special guests, but Ogura will travel to the South American nation today to inform organisers their participation was no longer feasible.

“We asked them to allow us to play and they agreed,” Ogura told Nikkan Sports.

“I will have to explain the situation in Japan as it’s not our decision to make. They understand we have to use July for rescheduled J-League matches,” he added, while stating Japan’s involvement in the July tournament is now impossible.

The disastrous earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan has caused major disruptions to Japanese sport nationwide.

It is not yet known if anyone will take the Asian nation’s place in group A alongside hosts Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia.